IRISH SHOW FIGHT IN LOSS

Notre Dame dug itself another first half hole against Purdue on Saturday, but the Irish battled back behind freshmen receivers Golden Tate and Duval Kamara to put a scare into the Boilermakers before losing 33-19. Evan Sharpley took over for an injured Jimmy Clausen and threw a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes, but continued malfunctions by Notre Dame’s special teams and more needless penalties spoiled the gritty comeback attempt.

The afternoon began poorly for Notre Dame as Purdue’s offense ripped off huge chunks of yardage. Tailback Kory Sheets ran through the Irish defensive front while quarterback Curtis Painter spread the ball to Dorian Bryant, Selwyn Lymon and the rest of his receivers. Meanwhile, Notre Dame came out throwing the ball but was unable to sustain its drives in the first half. The ground attack that had shown so much progress against Michigan State was nowhere to be found.

The first twenty minutes of this contest appeared to be a replay of earlier disastrous performances by Notre Dame. After being held to a field goal in its first drive, Purdue drove 80 yards in eight plays to take a 10-0 lead before ten minutes had expired.

The Boilermakers regained possession moments later when their defense stuffed the Irish on a fourth and one play. The visitors’ frustration grew when Painter hit Greg Orton for a forty yard gain on a third down and 29. Although the drive stalled on the next series, Purdue seized the field position advantage by punting to the Notre Dame two yard line.

When Jimmy Clausen threw a bad pass and was intercepted moments later, the game threatened to turn into a rout. Somehow, the Irish defense held Purdue to another field goal, but the Boilers immediately got the ball back and drove smartly into the end zone for a 20-0 lead. Painter completed two third down passes on the drive and hit Bryant for an 11-yard score.

When things seemingly could not get worse for Notre Dame, they did. An offensive holding penalty was followed by a fumble, and Purdue was in business once again in the red zone. The Irish defense did not fold, however, and the Boilers were held to another Chris Summers field goal with just under three minutes left in the half.

Trailing 23-0, Notre Dame finally began to show signs of life. Clausen hit fellow freshman Golden Tate for 36 yards, but the Irish could not capitalize because Purdue blocked a field goal attempt by Brandon Walker. The Boilermakers threatened again in the waning seconds, but Kyle McCarthy’s interception stopped Painter and Purdue before more damage was done.

Coach Charlie Weis had a harsh message for his troops at halftime, and it started to pay dividends in the third quarter. Tom Zbikowski intercepted an errant pass by Painter, and suddenly the Irish had the ball in Purdue territory. Clausen hit Kamara twice to move the ball to the ten yard line, and then found John Carlson on a fourth down heave for his first career touchdown pass.

A missed extra point kept Notre Dame in a 23-6 hole, but the Irish continued to fight. Still, things looked bleak when Clausen limped off the field with a hip pointer and the offense was once again denied on a fourth and one rush. Purdue took over and added another field goal as the third quarter came to a close.

Evan Sharpley suddenly found a rhythm at quarterback for Notre Dame. Tate made another acrobatic catch on a deep ball for 43 yards, and Kamara caught a nine yard scoring pass with 12:43 remaining in the game. Once again, Whitaker missed the conversion and the Irish trailed 26-12.

Painter had inexplicably gone cold for Purdue, and the Boilermakers quickly went three and out. Sharpley returned and hit Robbie Parris over the middle for 24 yards on a fourth down pass, and Tate hauled in a 25-yarder moments later for the third Irish touchdown. With nearly eight minutes remaining, Notre Dame trailed by only seven points at 26-19.

Unfortunately for the Irish, a short kickoff and poor coverage allowed Purdue to take over near midfield. Darrin Walls was called for defensive holding on the first play from scrimmage, and the Boilermakers were back in business. Sheets and Painter ran for first downs and set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Dustin Keller.

Trailing by 33-19, the last hope for Notre Dame was dashed when Sharpley could not force the ball into Carlson’s hands at the Purdue goal line. The Boilers were able to run out the clock and preserve the win to go 5-0 on the season.

A review of the key questions that determined the outcome is as follows:

Can Notre Dame prevent Purdue from getting off to a fast start? Unfortunately not.

Will Notre Dame force Purdue to earn every yard on offense? Not really. Purdue had considerable yards after the catch in the first half and penalties continued to hurt.

Will the Irish be able to sustain the ground game throughout the contest? Not at all.

Will Painter have the luxury of time in the pocket to pick apart the Irish secondary? For the most part, yes.

Will Clausen throw the ball downfield with even modest success? Definitely. He and Sharpley had better protection and the receivers made plays downfield.

Will poor special teams play by the Irish or turnovers provide Purdue’s offense with a short field? Yes, especially in the first half but also when Notre Dame closed to 26-19.

Which team will be able to convert its third down plays? Purdue in the first half, but the Irish held their own in the second.

Despite the second half surge and the individual heroics by Tate, Sharpley and Kamara, Notre Dame is still not a fundamentally solid team. The 23-0 first half was as ugly as any football the Irish have played to date, and the running game was absent all day long. Eleven penalties for 110 yards, two missed extra points and a blocked field goal are not the mark of a successful team. The 49 yards rushing was also a step backward.

On the positive side, Notre Dame outgained Purdue by 426-371, and the defense did well to hold the Boilermakers to field goals on four occasions when touchdowns seemed almost inevitable. Young, talented players give Irish fans a reason to remain positive in terms of the program’s long term prospects, but the goal each week is to win the football game. This will take sixty minutes of good football rather than thirty, drastic improvement in all aspects of special teams, an offensive performance in which the team can move the ball both on the ground and though the air, and a bit of luck.

As the season heads toward the halfway point, it’s about time for something different.

IRISH FACE PURDUE AIR SHOW

Notre Dame travels to Purdue on Saturday to take on the 4-0 Boilermakers. The Irish will face a different type of attack this week after engaging in four consecutive ground wars to open the season. Purdue’s Curtis Painter is the best quarterback Notre Dame will have faced to date, and he is sure to fill the air with passes in Joe Tiller’s spread offense.

The Irish will take a physical approach to the game in an attempt to slow down the Boilers. Coach Charlie Weis will continue to build on the progress made in running game last week and pound away at the suspect Purdue defense. Defensively, Notre Dame’s secondary will have to tighten up considerably after two consecutive disappointing performances.

Despite the fact that the Boilers have played three soft teams and Big Ten doormat Minnesota to open their season, Painter has put up an impressive array of statistics. The strong-armed passer is well protected and exceptionally accurate, as evidenced by a 68.7 completion percentage, 16 touchdowns and only one interception. Purdue has already scored 26 touchdowns, and Notre Dame will be hard pressed to record as many all season.

In order to have a chance at victory, the Irish must be able to sustain drives and control the clock on offense. Conversely, they must win the field position battle and prevent the Boilers from connecting on big plays for quick scores. This means Notre Dame cannot commit turnovers, shank punts or give up long returns on special teams. Coach Charlie Weis may need to resurrect the plan conceived by Bill Parcells in Super Bowl XXV and executed to perfection by the New York Giants against the high scoring Buffalo Bills. If only Lawrence Taylor were available to help the Irish defense.

It will also be important for Notre Dame to bring the fight to Purdue in a manner not seen by the Boilermakers in their first four games. A physical contest favors the Irish, but Jimmy Clausen must be able to execute a few plays in the passing game. The visitors must be able to score at least 30 points to win, and that will be a tall order for a group of players that is still struggling to find a rhythm and an identity.

Notre Dame’s Offense vs. Purdue’s Defense

Irish fans are excited about serving a healthy diet of James Aldridge and Robert Hughes to Purdue as well as future opponents. By mixing in a few plays featuring speedster Armando Allen, Notre Dame is developing a formula for ground based success. The Purdue defense is not a dominant group and will have to commit additional resources to stop the run. Their plan will undoubtedly be to force Clausen to pass and blitz him when those situations arise.

Senior defensive end Cliff Avril is the best Purdue lineman, but the few sacks generated by the Boilers this season have mostly been credited to the linebackers or secondary. This would be an ideal week for Notre Dame to actually execute a screen pass to Allen or Hughes, as opportunities for long gains will be available.

The strength of Purdue’s 4-3 defense is at linebacker, where a rotation of four seniors led by Stanford Keglar and Josh Ferguson has combined for 91 tackles. The success of Notre Dame’s running game will be tied to the ability of its fullbacks and tight ends to execute blocks against this group. As Irish fans have already seen many times this year, one whiffed block can cause a potentially big play to unravel.

Safety Justin Scott and cornerback Terrell Vinson are the leaders in the Boiler secondary, but the Irish should be able to exploit this group if the pass protection is adequate and Clausen is not continually faced with third and long situations. Tight end John Carlson should finally become a frequent target this week, and Notre Dame fans hope to see the ball thrown downfield to the likes of David Grimes, Duval Kamara, D.J. Hord or Golden Tate.

Besides the expectation for continued improvement in the running game, the chances of success for the Irish will largely depend on the maturation of Clausen. The freshman must be able to read coverages and release the ball more quickly, and he must do a better job of anticipating the blitz. Although he will be playing in another hostile environment, the Boiler defense is far less intimidating than the opposition he has faced to date.

Purdue’s Offense vs. Notre Dame’s Defense

The most dangerous receiver for Purdue is Dorian Bryant, and the Irish must keep him in front of them at all times. Last year, the same plan to keep Bryant in check was largely successful, but unheralded Selwyn Lymon burned the Notre Dame secondary for 238 receiving yards and two touchdowns. This pair is joined by Greg Orton and tight end Dustin Keller, who has a team best 18.9 yards per catch.

The passing game matchups will test the Irish and necessitate the use of five or even six defensive backs. Up front, Notre Dame will have to rotate several players in order to generate and maintain some pressure on Painter. Freshman linebackers Brian Smith and Kerry Neal, both of whom performed well last week, will see additional time on Saturday. This pair must also be prepared to contain Bryant when he runs a reverse, as this play has been very successful for Purdue and is a staple of its offense.

Notre Dame can ill afford confusion in the secondary and blown assignments when Purdue lines up in multiple formations and sends people in motion. If Painter and his receivers are able to get the Irish on their heels, they could run them off the field. Discipline and sure tackling are going to be critical if the game is to be close. The Irish must hit Painter on pass attempts even if they do not sack him, and the defensive backs must prevent excess yards after the catch. Only by frustrating Purdue and disrupting the flow of its offense will Notre Dame be able to win.

An element that should not be overlooked is the Boilermaker running game. Kory Sheets is a versatile and productive back, although he is neither exceptionally fast nor a bruiser at 206 pounds. The offensive line is more adept at pass blocking, but fifth year senior center Robbie Powell and his mates have enabled Purdue backs to run for over 200 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry. The Irish obviously cannot afford to allow that sort of production in light of Painter’s lethality in the passing game.

Special Teams

Once again, Bryant is the main threat as a return man for the Boilermakers. He averages over 35 yards per kickoff return and has already recorded a touchdown. Purdue has also generated 14.5 yards per punt return, and its coverage teams have limited opponents to very modest gains. The Irish have underachieved in both the return game and in coverage, and they must improve both by a substantial margin to avoid a significant disadvantage.

Punter Geoff Price must also regain the consistency that he displayed last season. The Irish kickoff specialists have been largely unable to reach the end zone this season, and Weis may call for well placed, shorter kicks to help contain Bryant. The specialists for Purdue are veteran punter Jared Armstrong and sophomore place kicker Chris Summers, both of whom have proven to be more than adequate.

Summary

Purdue’s vast array of weapons may be too much for the Irish defense to handle. Bryant will stretch the field and Keller is an underrated threat at tight end. Painter can also rely on short tosses or screen passes to Sheets in order to move the chains. It does not seem likely that Notre Dame can generate enough pressure to cause disruption or turnovers.

Notre Dame should be able to run the ball against the Purdue defense, but they must execute with greater consistency if they are to remain in the game. A two score deficit will be problematic for Clausen, as his best opportunity to settle into the pocket will be in situations that are not obvious passing downs.

The key questions that will help determine the outcome this week are as follows:

Can Notre Dame prevent Purdue from getting off to a fast start?
Will Notre Dame force Purdue to earn every yard on offense?
Will the Irish be able to sustain the ground game throughout the contest?
Will Painter have the luxury of time in the pocket to pick apart the Irish secondary?
Will Clausen throw the ball downfield with even modest success?
Will poor special teams play by the Irish or turnovers provide Purdue’s offense with a short field?
Which team will be able to convert its third down plays?


Prediction

Once again, the Irish will show improvement on offense and complete a few passes to augment a developing ground game. Unfortunately, they will not be able to keep pace with the Boilermakers. Painter is too polished and Notre Dame’s inability to pressure him while covering his receivers will ultimately spell defeat.

Purdue 35 Notre Dame 24

My Two Cents

The 0-4 start by Notre Dame has prompted a spate of analyses, rationalizations and accusations by a number of well-meaning folks and the ever-present band of Irish haters across the country. Some good insights have washed ashore from this sea of words, but there are only two truths that merit further discussion. First, Charlie Weis is not wholly responsible for the current state of Notre Dame football, but he is partially responsible. Second, Weis is not going anywhere and will get a fair opportunity to fix it.

It has been well-documented that Weis was not left with much front line talent in this year’s junior and senior classes. Of the 32 players originally signed in this group, only 24 remain. None of them are elite players, nor would any start on a top 15 team. To make matters worse, the team is currently ten scholarship players short of the 85 player limit. Weis tried to fill the gaps by promoting a few walk-ons and coaxing a handful of fifth year seniors to return this season, but only Trevor Laws has played well.

The main consequence of this talent deficiency is the offensive and defensive lines are made up of players who would normally be backups. Laws is the only defensive lineman who should be getting the majority of snaps, and he is double teamed on virtually every play. Patrick Kuntz is an inspirational player at nose tackle, but he should be in a rotation where he plays about 40% of the time. Also, the two-headed monster of Justin Brown and Dwight Stephenson, Jr. at right end has not done the job.

The offensive line has one front line player, center John Sullivan. His experience as a fifth year player is valuable, but his consistency as a blocker has not always met expectations. The rest of the linemen are either limited athletically (Turkovich, Duncan) or playing a year sooner than is ideal based on need (Wenger, Carufel, Olsen). Finally, sophomore tackle Sam Young has actually regressed from his performance last season, leading me to believe (without any first hand knowledge) that he is playing through an undisclosed injury.

The skill position players on offense are a collection of athletes with some talent, but they are not yet a cohesive unit. The quarterback and wide receivers do not make reads and adjustments in a manner that indicates familiarity and a basic comfort level. Weis is obviously not ready to give Jimmy Clausen the latitude to audible at the line of scrimmage, thereby negating a major component of his offense.

There is also an undeniable talent issue at receiver. No deep threat has been in evidence, which allows opponents to crowd the short passing lanes and commit an extra body to run defense. The starting wideouts have been unable to defeat man-to-man press coverage, and the tight end has been forced to stay in and help with the pass blocking chores on most occasions. The Irish have not even been able to execute a decent screen pass. The timing has not been good on these plays and there always seems to be a breakdown in the blocking just when the back is poised to burst into the secondary.

Where Weis went wrong throughout the spring and preseason is in thinking he just needed to get his quarterback ready to play while the rest of his offense would be a plug and play proposition. His early game plans assumed a level of fundamental competence among the other ten players that was never achieved in spring and fall practice. Weis discovered the hard way that basic recognition and blocking skills, which were not an issue in his NFL offenses and the veteran group he has coached in his first two years at Notre Dame, were not fully ingrained in this year’s young line.

As a consequence, Weis has been forced to dial back and develop simple core competencies that should have been nurtured beginning in January. His area of greatest strength is in the personnel available to cobble together a decent running game, and he has already produced some tangible results against Michigan State after one week of intense practice. Still, there is a long way to go before real cohesiveness takes hold, and the dearth of talent at receiver and the limitations of a freshman quarterback will ensure that no miracles take place this season.

That Weis did not see this coming is on him and his staff. Irish fans can now understand why Ara Parseghian said he needed to draw upon the experience gained in each of his years as a head coach before he could hope to be successful at Notre Dame. Despite his outward confidence and bravado, Weis is still learning the lessons of a head coach. The good news is that he appears capable of understanding his mistakes and fixing them, as he did last year with the defense.

This is not a guarantee that he will be able to turn things around completely. He must become a better manager and surround himself with staff members that will challenge him in a positive way and provide perspective. His current offensive assistants either did not recognize the inherent problems with the rest of the unit while Weis was working with the quarterbacks, or the working environment created by Weis is not conducive to a free exchange of ideas. Neither situation is acceptable.

It’s inconceivable that veteran offensive line coach John Latina did not see warning signs in the play of his charges long before the Irish took the field against Georgia Tech. I’m concerned that Weis exerts such a high degree of control over the offense that his assistant coaches are marginalized. While Weis has obviously learned that there is more to the head coaching position than the role of play-caller, it will be interesting to see whether he is willing to delegate more responsibility and strengthen his staff.

Weis did hand pick Corwin Brown to run his defense, and the venerable Bill Lewis is there to add advice and insight based on years of college and professional experience. Still, there is room for further upgrades on this staff. The program screams for a bona fide special teams coach, and Weis must be able to objectively evaluate the performance of each assistant as it relates to the development of young players. Again, he must remember that Notre Dame is not an NFL program.

Many of the aforementioned shortcomings will be mitigated through recruiting. Weis has substantially upgraded the talent level in the freshman and sophomore classes and is on track to add another outstanding class in February 2008. There is no way to exaggerate the need for a full roster of talented players, but that alone will not guarantee championship level teams unless Weis is able to adapt and address the other basic deficiencies in his program.

The expectations for this season should be the continued development of the offensive unit such that individual and collective improvements are obvious. Wins and losses are always important, but the schedule is such that 4-5 wins may be the high water mark for this team. That will be tolerable if the effort is maintained at a high level and the incidence of mistakes, penalties and negative plays do not cause the team to lose a game it would otherwise have won.

Defensively, it will be difficult to keep the current unit from wearing down as the season progresses. Several young players will be called upon to see action a year earlier than may be ideal, but reinforcements will arrive next season and the experience will be useful in the long run. The growth of a promising group of athletes along the back seven is of interest to many Notre Dame fans. Weis and Brown should be able to integrate them into the rotation, if for no other reason than to rest the starters for longer periods later in the year.

Despite the improvements realized on special teams in Weis’ first season, the productivity of these units has since deteriorated. Weis obviously recognizes the problems as evidenced by his public statements, but his attempts to fix them have failed. This is an area to watch going forward, and Weis’ willingness to hire and empower an established coach will be noteworthy.

Weis and Notre Dame have numerous positives upon which to build, and there are sufficient indicators that they can come all the way back from the current depths. There is no pre-ordained script with a happy ending, however, and everyone associated with the program must do their part to make the Charlie Weis era a success. It’s much more than a one man show.

IRISH FALL TO SPARTANS

Notre Dame’s struggles continued on Saturday against Michigan State, as the Spartans defeated the Irish 31-14 to record their sixth straight victory in South Bend. Although Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and began to resurrect its running game, the defense surrendered key plays and the special teams were badly outplayed. The Irish trailed by only 17-14 at the half, but Michigan State took control with a long kickoff return to open the third quarter and never looked back.

The game began well in all phases for Notre Dame before things began to unravel. Three straight running plays produced a first down near midfield on the opening drive. The Spartans forced an Irish punt, but Geoff Price pinned the visitors back on their own three yard line. Brian Hoyer fumbled a snap on State’s second play from scrimmage and John Ryan recovered for Notre Dame on the Spartan nine.

After Robert Hughes fought his way to the one yard line, Travis Thomas walked in around left end for a 7-0 Irish advantage only five minutes into the contest. Michigan State wasted no time getting untracked, however, as they took the ensuing kickoff and drove for the tying score in only three minutes. Hoyer hit Devin Thomas on a thinly disguised pick play for a seven yard touchdown pass.

Notre Dame started to lose ground on its next series. Asaph Schwapp went nowhere on a third and one rush, and Price shanked a punt. The Irish defense held its ground, but the offense was backed up moments later after a holding penalty on special teams put them inside their own ten. The offensive line surrendered a sack and the Spartans began to win the field position battle. After another Irish punt, the first quarter ended with Michigan State inside Notre Dame territory.

A 26-yard run by Javon Ringer set up another MSU touchdown pass by Hoyer, who hit tight end Kellen Davis in the back of the end zone for a 14-7 lead. The Irish managed a first down on its next possession until disaster struck. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen was running for his life and was unable to get rid of the ball before it was stripped from him and recovered by Jonal Saint-Dic.

The Spartans were held to a field goal when Hoyer misfired on third down, and they led by 17-7 with 12:19 left in the half. Notre Dame then showed the grit and determination that fans expected after a week of intense practice. Following a diving pass reception by George West, James Aldridge rumbled for 43 yards and Hughes ripped off 17 more to the MSU six. The Irish stayed on the ground and Hughes scored the touchdown from the three to cut the deficit to 17-14.

Special teams play then put the Irish in the hole with sloppy kick coverage and poor punts, but free safety David Bruton prevented further damage before the half by intercepting a deep pass by Hoyer in the end zone. Freshman linebackers Brian Smith and Kerry Neal also impressed when they saw the field late in the final two Spartan possessions.

While Notre Dame hoped to build on the positives and regain the lead coming out of the locker room, Michigan State immediately seized control with a long kickoff return to start the third quarter. The Spartans frustrated the Irish by converting a pair of long third down plays before Hoyer hit a wide open Mark Dell for a 16-yard score.

Trailing 24-14, Notre Dame returned to the ground game and Aldridge brought them to midfield. Once again, the offensive line imploded on a fourth and one play, and the Irish failed to penetrate MSU territory for the remainder of the afternoon.

The Spartans iced the win with a 30-yard strike from Hoyer to Davis on a well-conceived fourth down play. Coach Charlie Weis inserted Evan Sharpley at quarterback in the final period as a bruised and battered Clausen watched from the sideline. What began as a promising day ended in all too familiar fashion for Notre Dame.

Although there were more positives for the Irish than in the first three games, there is little evidence that the team is ready to break into the win column anytime soon. Aldridge ran for over 100 yards and Hughes looked like a future star, but the passing game still suffers from protection breakdowns, a tentative quarterback and receivers who cannot consistently get open. Tight end John Carlson has not been a factor downfield because he must help to slow down those who intend to inflict grievous bodily harm on his quarterback.

Defensively, Trevor Laws, Patrick Kuntz, Maurice Crum and Tom Zbikowski continue to play hard and freshmen Brian Smith and Kerry Neal flashed speed and talent. The time has come, however, for Coach Charlie Weis to stop talking about special teams and do something to fix them. Continued breakdowns are bound to cost the Irish a victory this year in an otherwise winnable game.

A quick look at the answers to key questions heading into the game:

Can Notre Dame finally establish the run? Comparatively speaking, yes. Unfortunately, the line still could not convert critical short yardage third and fourth down plays.

Will the Irish linebackers neutralize Ringer and Caulcrick? Except for Maurice Crum, ND’s starting linebackers were ineffective. The Spartan pair ran for over 200 yards.

Which young quarterback will have time to throw? Hoyer will not need to send his uniform to the laundry this week.

Will Notre Dame's receivers be able to make plays? That’s hard to say. Four games into the season and I can barely remember their names.

Who will win the special teams battle? MSU in an embarrassing rout.

The Irish will return to the practice field for another week of banging before traveling to Purdue next week. As with any major overhaul, the process of building this football team will be measured in small steps rather than giant leaps. Any Notre Dame fans that do not have the patience to endure this process had better spend the next four Saturdays on the golf course.

EMBATTLED IRISH HOST SPARTANS

Notre Dame returns home to continue the Big Ten portion of the schedule against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday. The Fighting Irish are winless in three starts and have been pounded by a combined score of 102-13. Coach Charlie Weis has circled the wagons in practice this week in order to create a sense of urgency among his players, and the student body has responded to adversity in typical Notre Dame fashion.

The Spartans are 3-0 against the usual preseason array of underwhelming opponents, but first year Coach Mark Dantonio is taking nothing for granted this week. The Spartans have won five straight games at Notre Dame and would love to make it six before entering conference play. Michigan State’s roster does not appear to be as talented as the previous opponents the Irish have faced this season, and many fans believe the team will find a way to win.

Weis has emphasized fundamentals this week, and the question is to what extent his team will improve over its disastrous performance last week in Ann Arbor. Jimmy Clausen has settled into to the quarterback position, but it remains to be seen if he can finally settle into the pocket behind a solid wall of protection.

Defensively, Notre Dame’s linebackers must play more physically and the secondary needs to tighten up after a poor game against Michigan. Derrell Hand returns from suspension to give the Irish more depth up front. The defensive line has exceeded expectations to date, but lack of depth and no help from the offense will take its toll by midseason unless a drastic turnaround occurs.

After a week of unusually hard-hitting practices, Notre Dame will be emotionally charged to take on the Spartans. Although the home crowd will certainly help, the Irish must avoid a turnover or significant negative play early in the game. This young team may not be able to overcome more self-inflicted adversity, regardless of the venue. Therefore, early success and the ability to play with a lead are vital to Notre Dame’s chances of victory.

Meanwhile, Michigan State’s strategy will be similar to other Irish opponents. The Spartans have the ability to pound the ball on the ground and pressure the quarterback on defense. The visitors average nearly 200 rushing yards per game and have recorded 17 sacks in three outings, so they have the weapons to carry out an aggressive plan against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s Offense vs. Michigan State’s Defense

End Jonal Saint-Dic was a one man wrecking crew for the Spartans last week, recording two sacks, three tackles for losses and two forced fumbles against Pittsburgh. He is joined on the line by veterans Ervin Baldwin and Ogemdi Nwagbuo, and supported by a talented middle linebacker in Kaleb Thornhill. All will provide another stern test for the beleaguered Irish offensive line.

Notre Dame will have to pay special attention to Saint-Dic, and that may require a tight end to stay home and block rather than become a downfield target for Clausen. First and foremost, however, the Irish will try once again to establish a running game. This week, James Aldridge is expected to get plenty of work on the heels of his determined effort against Michigan last week.

When Weis calls for the pass, Notre Dame’s receivers must do a better job of getting open. On the rare occasions when the line has protected Clausen, he has often been frustrated by the lack of options downfield. Teams have been able to employ tight coverage and take away quick slants and other staples Weis’ offense. The deep pass has been open on several occasions this season, but Clausen has not had the time to make a good throw in those situations. The Spartans have a pair of talented safeties in Travis Key and Otis Wiley, but the Irish should be able to move the ball through the air.

If the Irish are going to be competitive in this game, they must avoid the penalties and mistakes that have continued to put them in impossible situations. Negative yardage plays seem to occur on every series, and there have been as many mental breakdowns as physical. This is because the Irish linemen are tentative and doing a lot of thinking when they should be firing out at their opponent. This should begin to change this week, but the Spartans are going to bring pressure until Notre Dame is able to handle it.

Michigan State’s Offense vs. Notre Dame’s Defense

Last week, Michigan’s young quarterback did not have to make many plays against the Irish because Mike Hart carried the ball 35 times for nearly 200 yards. Michigan State’s Brian Hoyer has taken over for Drew Stanton this season, and he has the luxury of being able to hand off to the elusive Javon Ringer and battering ram Jehuu Caulcrick. This productive pair will run left behind a pair of massive fifth year senior linemen in guard Kenny Shane and tackle Pete Clifford.

Hoyer has been unspectacular in the three Spartan victories, and he has not faced a second half deficit this season. If Notre Dame can build a lead in this contest and force Hoyer to throw the ball, turnover opportunities may present themselves.

The passing game for Michigan State is certainly not bereft of talent. Wide receiver Devin Thomas has averaged more than 26 yards per catch, and tight end Kellen Davis is an outstanding target. The Irish have not seen a tight end this season as productive as Davis, and his presence is sure to cause them problems.

The greatest fear for Notre Dame remains a continuous pounding by Caulcrick and the outside rushes of Ringer when the defense becomes fatigued. The Irish linebackers have not demonstrated the physicality needed to contain this pair, and it could become another long afternoon once the early game emotions are expended.

Special Teams

Michigan State’s Brett Swenson is a reliable kicker, and freshman punter Aaron Bates has been adequate to date. Thomas also handles kick returns, where his 29 yard average places him among the nation’s best. Another wide receiver, Terry Love, returns punts at a 12.5 yard clip. The Irish have come close to breaking a kickoff return on several occasions. Golden Tate will be the primary returner this week, and Notre Dame could use a big play from him or a Tom Zbikowski punt return to provide a spark.

Brandon Walker has executed his field goal attempts for the Irish this season, and he may get an opportunity to kick with the outcome still in doubt this week. Punter Geoff Price will need to outperform Bates in order to win the field position battle, but Notre Dame fans would rather not see him at all. Price has punted 24 times for over 1000 yards this season, and is by far the leading offensive weapon for the Irish.

Summary

Notre Dame knows what is coming from the Spartans. Ringer and Caulcrick will see plenty of work, while Coach Dantonio tries to keep from placing Hoyer in difficult positions. He will take his shots downfield to Thomas and try to move the chains with short tosses to Davis. Defensively, Saint-Dic will lead the charge against Clausen, and Thornhill will key on Aldridge or whoever runs the ball for the Irish.

Special teams are important in that Notre Dame must make Michigan State earn field position. Penalties and pass protection breakdowns leading to sacks are not plays made by successful teams, and the Irish must at minimum find a cure for them if they are to have any hope of winning.

The key elements that will determine the outcome are as follows:

Can Notre Dame finally establish the run?
Will the Irish linebackers neutralize Ringer and Caulcrick?
Which young quarterback will have time to throw?
Will Notre Dame's receivers be able to make plays?
Who will win the special teams battle?

Prediction

The Spartans are not as good as the teams Notre Dame has played so far this season, and the Irish can go nowhere but up after last week’s rock bottom performance. While the game will be competitive, it is very unlikely that Weis and company can overcome widespread fundamental flaws in seven short days regardless of the intensified practice regimen. Many fans and students believe they can will the team to victory and produce a classic Notre Dame moment by overcoming the odds, but they will have to settle for modest improvements and the first offensive touchdown of the season.

Michigan State 24 Notre Dame 13

DISGRACE IN ANN ARBOR

In a horrific display of offensive incompetence, Notre Dame football sunk to a level not seen since December 1985 when the Irish were annihilated 38-0 by Michigan on Saturday. The disaster started from the first play of scrimmage when fifth year senior center John Sullivan launched the snap over the head of Armando Allen and pinned Notre Dame back to its one yard line. Fifty nine minutes later, the Irish had committed four turnovers and two pass interference penalties, surrendered eight sacks and demonstrated absolutely no passion or motivation for the sport.

After the game, Coach Charlie Weis told the media that Notre Dame would start over with a training camp mentality. Presumably, competition for every job will be reopened and the team will attempt to discover forgotten core competencies such as blocking and tackling. The question is how well the players will respond to this challenge, and if Weis truly holds sway over the team in the aftermath of Demetrius Jones’ sudden defection and the string of blowout losses dating back to last November.

This contest featured another dead on arrival game plan by Weis. Allen was the Irish third player in three games to take the opening offensive snap, and this week’s gimmick produced the worst result yet. Rather than high school level attempts to confuse an opposing defense, Notre Dame would be better served to repeatedly run five basic plays in practice until it gets them right. Defensively, the Irish simply quit under the weight of a hopeless situation and the pounding of the Wolverine offensive line.

Michigan was able to start three of its four first quarter possessions inside Notre Dame territory and build a 17-0 lead. Clausen was intercepted as the game moved into the second period, and the Wolverines burned the blitzing Irish for a 24-0 advantage. Clausen was penalized on the ensuing possession for intentional grounding and delay of game. Remarkably, Travis Thomas converted the first down on a fake punt, but Michigan’s Shawn Crable blew up a screen pass and sacked Clausen on consecutive plays to force a real punt.

Mike Hart took over at this point and ran through the dispirited Irish for 187 yards. Notre Dame could not even mount a scoring threat in the second half against the Wolverine third string players, and Weis mercifully pulled the plug on Clausen while he was still able to walk off the field. Many freshman and reserve players received their first taste of game action for the Irish, and players such as Matt Romine and Thomas Bemenderfer distinguished themselves with notable effort and energy.

Meanwhile, there is no miracle cure for Notre Dame’s fundamental problems. The team completed its third straight game with negative rushing yards and no offensive touchdowns. Doubts about Weis are emerging despite his early success on campus. The schedule should get a bit easier in that the next three opponents are not as good as the first three, but the Irish won’t beat them, either. Michigan was winless in its first two starts and looked quite vulnerable coming into this game, but Notre Dame made them look like the 1985 Chicago Bears.

A brief but mostly unnecessary review of the key elements that determined the outcome:

Will Notre Dame be able to run the ball? No, at least not in a forward direction.

Will Hart be able to keep Michigan from third and long situations? Definitely.

Will Notre Dame give Clausen time to throw? On the rare occasions when they did, he held onto the ball too long.

Will the Irish be able to contain Manningham? Not really. The Irish secondary played its worst game of the season.

Which team will commit costly turnovers and penalties? Don’t ask and I won’t have to repeat myself.

Which freshman quarterback will best execute the game plan? Mallett, but in Clausen’s defense there wasn’t much of a game plan to execute.

Field goal success rate. It didn’t matter.

As I watch Clausen take a beating while the rest of the team looks so painfully inept, I’m reminded of the 1989 Dallas Cowboys and their rookie quarterback, Troy Aikman. That team finished 1-15 and was the laughing stock of professional football. A few short years later, Dallas had stocked its roster with talented players and surrounded Aikman with a powerful offensive line, a workhorse running back and tall, sure-handed receivers. The defense was also rebuilt with athletic, fast and dominant players.

While Weis has done a credible job of recruiting in the past two seasons, it has become a test of faith to believe that he is capable of turning around the Irish. Clearly, his learning curve as a head coach is much steeper than most believed when he was hired. Patience will wear thin as the losses continue to pile up, and the true measure of Weis’ ability will be the way this team finishes the season. Real leadership must emerge from the ranks of the underclassmen and a foundation of fundamentals must be established for future success. Notre Dame fans can only hope that the worst is behind them.

Big Uglies Battle in Ann Arbor

After suffering two crushing defeats to start their respective seasons, Michigan and Notre Dame will stagger into the Big House on Saturday like a pair of aging, punch-drunk heavyweights. Each team will start a highly recruited freshman quarterback and attempt to rebuild its foundation for the remainder of this season and beyond. Rather than a pre-game flyover by a squadron of F/A-18 Hornets, it’s more likely that a flock of buzzards will circle overhead and descend upon the loser.

Ryan Mallett replaces the injured Chad Henne at quarterback for the Wolverines. The strong-armed Texan played the entire second half against Oregon, but failed to guide his team into the end zone. Jimmy Clausen experienced similar frustration against Penn State, as Notre Dame’s problems along the offensive line and in the running game turned a difficult road game into a nightmare.

While the offensive woes of the Irish are well-documented, Michigan can protect Mallett with a competent line led by left tackle Jake Long, hand the ball to senior tailback Mike Hart or throw it to a pair of veteran receivers in Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington. Coach Lloyd Carr is expected to utilize Hart early and often while refraining from undue risks in the passing game. The operative question for the Irish defense is whether or not to load up against the run and dare to single cover the Wolverine receivers.

Michigan’s defense, which has surrendered over 500 yards per game this season, has been the area of greatest concern for Carr. The front seven has been uncharacteristically soft against the run, allowing 5.2 yards per carry. The secondary has been burned for big plays in the passing game and a 69% overall completion rate. Since Notre Dame’s offense has not demonstrated the ability to move the ball in any manner, it will be interesting to see if one of these blundering units will rise up and outplay the other.

Much to the dismay of Coach Charlie Weis, Notre Dame was unable to make Penn State pay when they blitzed last week and left themselves in single coverage situations. This was not due to a lack of confidence in Clausen, but rather the failure of the offensive line to allow the freshman time to deliver the ball downfield. This week’s game is pivotal for both teams in that neither wants to start with three straight losses, so Weis will continue to be aggressive against the struggling Wolverines.

Notre Dame’s Offense vs. Michigan’s Defense

While Georgia Tech and Penn State exerted relentless pressure on Irish quarterbacks, Michigan’s front seven is not as athletic and fast. The best players in this group are tackle Terrance Taylor and linebacker Shawn Crable. Notre Dame will more frequently run away from Crable’s side and keep a tight end at the ready to pick him up when he blitzes.

The Irish should finally be able to open some holes for tailback Armando Allen. After failing to run the ball in its first two games, Notre Dame must demonstrate some semblance of balance if it expects to win on Saturday. After another week of intensive practice, the offensive line must begin to demonstrate noticeable improvement. The unit reduced the number of mental errors last week after a forgettable opener, but physical breakdowns and poor technique remained constant.

Michigan will undoubtedly follow the lead of Notre Dame’s first two opponents and blitz Notre Dame repeatedly. The Irish have not shown the ability to handle pressure, and opponents will continue to attack until Clausen and friends make someone pay. If Notre Dame is able to protect Clausen, it can spread out Michigan’s defense and strike for big plays in the passing game or with Allen on quick bursts through the line. One key element to look for is whether tight end John Carlson is forced to stay in and block or if he can get downfield and catch passes.

Although Clausen is not known for his running ability, Michigan’s first two opponents burned the Wolverines several times when the quarterback was able to break containment and run for first downs. There may be times on Saturday when Clausen will need to do the same thing in order to keep a drive going or simply avoid a negative play. This obviously is not an ideal strategy, but such is the current state of Notre Dame’s offense.

Michigan’s Offense vs. Notre Dame’s Defense

The Wolverines will run Hart and backup Brandon Minor at the right side of Notre Dame’s defense behind the massive Long. The strategy is rather simple: keep first time starter Mallett out of difficult third down situations and set up play action bombs to Manningham when the Irish safeties are most susceptible. When Mallett must throw the ball, Carr will try to keep things safe. Arrington is a polished possession receiver, and 6’3” Greg Mathews is another favorite target.

Notre Dame understands that Hart will be the primary threat, but they will be able to contain him only as long as the Irish offense can keep them fresh. If Corwin Brown’s overachievers can rely on the offense for a few points, reasonable time of possession and decent field position, the game can be won.

On passing downs, Notre Dame must pressure the slow-footed Mallett in the pocket and attempt to confuse him with different coverage looks. The Irish want to force him to take slightly longer than is ideal to deliver the ball and thereby create turnover opportunities. This would be far less likely with the senior Henne in the game, but all bets are off when a freshman is taking the snaps.

Under normal circumstances, Manningham’s dangerous presence would keep the Irish secondary honest and allow Hart a bit more room to run. Since Mallett is making his first start, it will be interesting to see if Notre Dame gambles with eight men against the run and to what extent Carr will allow his young quarterback to counter attack.

Special Teams

The game is likely to be a low scoring affair, therefore field position, the return game and field goal conversion are critical. Both teams have excellent punters, but the Michigan’s Jason Gingell is only two for five in field goal attempts. Brandon Walker has a strong leg for Notre Dame, but his experience is limited and he has yet to attempt a real pressure kick. The Irish appear to have an advantage in the return game as Tom Zbikowski (punts) and Allen (kickoffs) compare favorably with the Wolverines’ Johnny Sears.

Summary

The entire season may not be on the line for both teams, but the winner can begin to move forward while the loser will continue its rare and embarrassing downward spiral. The team that holds a lead by a touchdown or more will have a distinct advantage in being able to force the other out of its game plan. It would not be surprising if the margin of victory was provided by a score on defense or special teams. As far as the offenses are concerned, 112,000 people will either witness the first of several classic battles between Clausen and Mallett, or they could just become bored out of their minds.


The key elements that will determine the outcome are as follows:

Will Notre Dame be able to run the ball?
Will Hart be able to keep Michigan from third and long situations?
Will Notre Dame give Clausen time to throw?
Will the Irish be able to contain Manningham?
Which team will commit costly turnovers and penalties?
Which freshman quarterback will best execute the game plan?
Field goal success rate

Prediction

Notre Dame will achieve a respectable level of competence on offense at some point this season, but the question is whether or not it will happen this week. Meanwhile, Hart will get his share of yards and Manningham is bound to escape for a score at some point during the afternoon. Mallett will not have to win the game by himself, while Clausen has neither the same level of protection nor the weapons at his disposal to put a winning total on the board.

The Michigan defense certainly can be scored upon, but the Irish offensive line has been so bad that it won’t be able to take full advantage. As much as Notre Dame fans hope the rivalry with the Wolverines will bring out the best in their offense, it’s unrealistic to assume the Irish will transform in one week from an inability to generate a first down to a point producing machine.

Notre Dame’s offense will finally reach the end zone, but it will not be enough to pull out the win.

Michigan 21 Notre Dame 17

LIONS SACK ANEMIC IRISH

Despite a promising debut by freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame turned in its second consecutive dismal offensive performance as the Irish fell 31-10 to Penn State. While Clausen completed 17 of 32 passes for 144 yards and flashed the talent and poise that fans had hoped to see, the offensive line crumbled around him. The Irish allowed six sacks and once again failed to establish a running game.

Notre Dame’s defense played well until the weight of offensive ineptitude took its toll. In a pathetic stretch that defies explanation, the Irish failed to record a first down after the opening drive until the fourth quarter. Amazingly, Notre Dame was still in the game, thanks to a shaky performance by Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli.

Darrin Walls intercepted a Morelli pass on the Lions’ first series and returned it 74 yards to give the Irish its first touchdown and first lead of the season. Penn State fumbled on its next possession, and the day appeared to belong to Notre Dame. The first of many false start penalties by the Irish and a sack led to a missed 50-yard field goal attempt, and the visitors would get no more scoring opportunities for the remainder of the half.

Meanwhile, the Lions got on the board on a 78-yard punt return by Derrick Williams. This came after the Irish lost good field position near midfield due to a personal foul penalty on Travis Thomas during a Penn State punt. Momentum switched to the Lions as the quiet capacity crowd came to life on the play, and Notre Dame did not recover it.

The Irish fell into the familiar pattern of three and out on offense and poor field position for the defense. Penn State gained possession at midfield midway through the second quarter and pushed across a touchdown on a short pass by Morelli to Jordan Norwood. The Lions led 14-7 at the half despite a late fumble by Morelli with insufficient time remaining for Notre Dame to muster a threat.

Two outstanding special teams plays in the third period led to an exchange of field goals. A.J. Wallace returned the second half kickoff for the Lions deep into Irish territory, but the defense held in the red zone this time. Trailing 17-7, Notre Dame countered when Tom Zbikowski returned a punt to the Penn State 7. In typical fashion, the Irish offense could not find the end zone and settled for a 17-10 deficit midway through the third period.

Morelli hit his only significant pass on the ensuing series, a 51 yard deep slant to Chris Bell. This was the only true defensive breakdown on the night by the Irish, and it could have been avoided had free safety David Bruton taken a proper angle to the ball. In any event, the Lions proceeded to score and extend their lead to 24-10.

Notre Dame had one more scoring opportunity in the fourth period when they found themselves with a first and goal at the Penn State ten yard line, but Clausen could not connect with his receivers in the end zone. A fourth down pass was rushed as the freshman once again was running for his young life.

The Lions added a final touchdown with 7:40 left in the game, but by then the issue had been decided and the Irish defense had nothing left in the tank. The final margin of 31-10 did not reflect their heart and determined play, but the offense crumbled under the weight of sacks, silly penalties and poor execution. The lack of any semblance of a running game is the single largest disappointment in this 2007 season, and both the coaches and the offensive linemen are accountable.

Reviewing the key elements that determined the outcome:

Which team can establish the run? Penn State was able to run, but only after the Irish defense was too exhausted to stop them.

Will Weis effectively utilize Allen in his game plan? I’m not sure that Weis knows who Allen is.

Will Notre Dame handle the blitz? Not at all. Dan Connor and company were not blocked all night.

Will Morelli strike for long plays against the Irish? Only one, but it was enough to put the game out of reach.

Which team will force the other into third and long situations? Both defenses did a good job until the Irish grew tired.

Who will win the turnover battle? Notre Dame won 3-1, but they could not capitalize.

Notre Dame fans had hoped for significant improvement after the 33-3 pounding at the hands of Georgia Tech, but the offensive line continued to play poorly. At Penn State, the problems were more physical in that the Irish seemed to know whom to block but could not sustain the effort. A rash of dumb penalties was also costly, and both the offense and special teams lacked discipline.

Grumbling can already be heard across the Notre Dame fan base regarding Coach Charlie Weis, and for the first time there are legitimate doubts about his ability to succeed at his alma mater. While it’s too early to panic in the face of a rebuilding year, it’s safe to say that no one expected the anemic performances by the offense.

The bright side is that Clausen looked like a star in the making despite extremely adverse conditions. If Weis and Corwin Brown can build a complete team around the Californian, the Irish just may get themselves out of this mess. In the mean time, patience is wearing thin.

GRUMPY IRISH VISIT HAPPY VALLEY

The Notre Dame football team might actually welcome two consecutive road games after last week’s spanking at home against Georgia Tech, but the Irish will play a revenge-seeking Penn State squad on Saturday evening in front of 107,000 hostile fans. Notre Dame soundly defeated the Nittany Lions last September, but quarterback Anthony Morelli has made considerable progress since that rough outing in South Bend.

Jimmy Clausen will make his starting debut at quarterback for Notre Dame. The freshman’s arm has been deemed ready to withstand the practice regimen that will prepare him for this game, but fans should not expect Clausen to single-handedly overcome a repeat of the fundamental offensive breakdowns that were in evidence against Georgia Tech.

Pass protection issues and the ability to sustain an effective running game are the primary concerns heading into the Lion’s Den, and the onus is on the Irish offensive line to right itself. Last week’s problems were both physical (inability to execute and hold blocks) and mental (missed assignments and protection breakdowns). Unfortunately, it is hard to imagine that this group can generate a 180 degree turnaround in a few short days.

Still, you have to start somewhere and it is much too early to write off this team and the season. Notre Dame will undoubtedly play much better this week than last, but the question is whether it will be good enough to win. Clausen’s presence will afford Coach Charlie Weis the opportunity to run his basic pass offense, but the freshman will need a complementary running game if he and the Irish are to survive.

Weis has come under considerable criticism because his offensive game plan for Georgia Tech was dead on arrival. Although there is some justification for this reaction by fans, Weis has cobbled together a fairly good record in 2+ years despite obvious talent deficiencies and holes on the roster. In 2005 and to a larger extent last season, he used a gifted quarterback to control the clock and protect a thin defense while trying to squeeze production from a below average running game.

This season, the offense appears to be more balanced, but the quarterback and supporting cast are very young. The defensive front seven is an even greater concern than last year. The result is that Weis must again construct his game plans with an eye toward covering weaknesses as much as employing strengths. His last three attempts, all against superior opponents, failed miserably. Blowout losses to USC and LSU last year were more a product of poor execution and talent mismatches than a flawed plan, but last week’s loss was less about talent and more about preparation and coaching.

Notre Dame’s players should be embarrassed after last week’s performance, but it remains to be seen whether they will display the intensity and emotion that quite honestly has been missing since the Michigan State game last year. Weis’ professional and business-like approach is fine, but there appears to be a lack of emotional leadership on this team.

The question becomes what approach is best for the 2007 Irish and the future of the program. Should Weis take the long view and ensure weekly improvement in fundamentals while his young players gain valuable experience? This seems to be the right course, but Notre Dame and its fans are not known for their patience and Weis is not one to embrace humility. As long as he believes he can out scheme the opposition and confound them his play-calling skills, Weis is unlikely to play it safe anytime soon.

This does not mean the Irish are doomed to fail against Penn State. The team and the coaches are not really as bad as their performance last week, and the Lions are not invincible despite their opening victory by 59-0 against a sandlot team from Florida International that did not win a single game last season.

Notre Dame Offense vs. Penn State Defense

The Irish can expect Penn State to blitz despite the fact that Defensive Coordinator Tom Bradley does not regularly employ this strategy. Notre Dame’s poor blocking performance last week makes it too tempting to lay back and allow a freshman starter at quarterback to get comfortable. Clausen will take three step drops and look for David Grimes on slants and both John Carlson and Robbie Parris in the short zones. An occasional deep ball to Grimes or D.J. Hord on first down or second and short will keep the secondary honest. Penn State cornerbacks Justin King and A. J. Wallace are fast, experienced and willing to take chances on short routes if Clausen locks in on his receivers or the Irish passing game becomes predictable.

Notre Dame’s running game has nowhere to go but up. The Lions have been depleted up front by graduation losses in three of four spots, but they boast outstanding linebackers who are stout against the run in Dan Connor and Sean Lee. Nevertheless, Weis must commit to the ground game to take the heat off Clausen and find ways to utilize Armando Allen. If the Irish cannot achieve balance in terms of running and passing, they will not be competitive in this game. Weis showed last year that Connor and Lee are much less effective in coverage than in run support. Look for Notre Dame to finally execute a few screen passes this week after several abortive attempts against Georgia Tech.

Penn State Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense

The Lions will also seek to attack Notre Dame on the ground. Austin Scott will start at tailback, but Evan Royster and Rodney Kinlaw will also play. All are competent backs, although none are quite as good as Tashard Choice.

Penn State’s strengths are Morelli and a trio of fast wide receivers. Juniors Deon Butler, Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood are a dangerous group, and tight end Andrew Quarless is productive pass catcher in the short zones. Quarless had been serving a suspension from the team of unspecified length, but he is expected to play against Notre Dame. Mickey Shuler played well last week in place of Quarless and contributed four receptions, including one touchdown.

Notre Dame’s best chance to win is to stop the running attack and force Morelli into mistakes in the passing game. That is a tall order, but the Lions are breaking in two new starters at offensive tackle and may not be able to dominate the game in the trenches. Still, the Irish proved vulnerable to outside runs last week and the linebackers must do a better job of holding the edge while the other players take better angles to the ball carrier.

The Irish secondary will have a more difficult challenge with Penn State’s receivers this week, and Morelli could be lethal if he is not pressured in the pocket. The Lions will undoubtedly test the Irish with play action fakes and deep passes to any of their three blazers.

Special Teams

Notre Dame received plenty of practice returning kickoffs last week, and Allen appears to be capable of breaking a long run. Lion kicker Kevin Kelly does not usually reach the end zone with his kickoffs, so Allen should get additional opportunities. Tom Zbikowski will again be back to return punts, but he may finally have room to maneuver this week since Jeremy Brown averages over 47 yards per try.

Kelly is a reliable kicker from short and medium range, and he has the advantage over Notre Dame’s Brandon Walker simply on the basis of experience. The Lions also have a dangerous return game as Williams is a proven threat to go the distance.

Summary

Penn State will come after Clausen and the Irish, although the freshman would not surprise most people if he remained poised and delivered crisp, accurate passes to his receivers. The question is whether the Irish will be able to keep the Lions off balance or the hosts will dictate play selection by forcing Notre Dame into third and long situations. If the Irish execute well and Clausen is as capable as advertised, they will score some points and stay in the game throughout.

The Irish defense must not be placed in awful field position by the special teams and given insufficient rest by the offense. It was difficult to judge this group last week for these reasons, but there is no question that Notre Dame must stop the run and avoid surrendering huge chunks of yardage on first down. Corwin Brown’s charges did not force a turnover last week, but they did put pressure on the passer when the outcome was still in doubt. If they cannot make Morelli uncomfortable in the pocket, he will have a big game for the Lions.

The key elements that will determine the outcome are as follows:

Which team can establish the run?
Will Weis effectively utilize Allen in his game plan?
Will Notre Dame handle the blitz?
Will Morelli strike for long plays against the Irish?
Which team will force the other into third and long situations?
Who will win the turnover battle?

Prediction

Notre Dame will show significant improvement on offense over last week, but there is too much work to be done for fans to expect a complete turnaround. Both teams will have modest success on the ground, but Penn State’s passing game is ahead of Notre Dame’s at this point in the season. The game will be close in the first half, but the Lions will seize control in the third quarter and win comfortably.

Penn State 34 Notre Dame 17

DAZED AND CONFUSED

Notre Dame opened the 2007 season with the most inept display of offensive football in the Charlie Weis era. As 80,000 fans withered under the relentless Indiana sun, the Irish experienced their own four hour meltdown against Georgia Tech. The game was not as close as the 33-3 final score would indicate, and Notre Dame has much work to do just to reach a competitive level at Penn State next week.

The Georgia Tech defense overwhelmed and exposed the young Irish offensive line, recording nine sacks, forcing two turnovers and limiting the hosts to negative rushing yardage. Meanwhile, Tashard Choice ran for nearly 200 yards as the Yellow Jackets shredded the gritty but out manned Irish defense.

Weis’ game plan unraveled from the start as quarterback Demetrius Jones was ineffective in directing a spread offense designed to utilize his running ability and showcase freshman tailback Armando Allen. While Allen flashed the speed and moves that were advertised by Weis in the days leading up to the game, Jones was ill-prepared for Tech’s defensive pressure. Once the Irish fell behind by more than one score, Weis called upon Evan Sharpley to lead a more conventional passing offense in order to get back in the game.

Unfortunately for Notre Dame, Sharpley had only limited success in this scheme. Under the direction of Coordinator Jon Tenuta, Georgia Tech’s blitz-happy swarm crushed any momentum created by the Irish offense. Tenuta was unfazed by Notre Dame’s mid-game strategy shift, and ultimately made Weis’ varied collection of personnel packages look like so much silliness. Weis did not move the pocket for his quarterbacks by rolling them out to avoid pressure, nor did the Irish execute a single screen pass.

Meanwhile, Corwin Brown’s debut on defense for the Irish was not a fair fight. Due to the inability of the offense to move the ball, two early turnovers by Jones and several unexpected poor punts by Geoff Price, the defense did well to hold Tech to three field goals in the first 20 minutes. The Jackets were obviously controlling the line of scrimmage, however, and Choice eventually broke through for a few long runs and a touchdown before halftime.

Notre Dame contributed to its own demise after the defense held the Jackets on third down just inside Irish territory. Justin Brown was called for a flagrant late hit to the head of a Georgia Tech lineman after the whistle had blown, and he was summarily ejected from the contest. Tech retained possession after the 15-yard penalty and scored its first touchdown later in that same drive for a 16-0 halftime advantage.

Choice was successful in part because Notre Dame’s outside linebackers could not hold the edge on sweeps and the pursuit was either too slow or unable to get off blocks. The secondary played reasonably well, although Tech’s Taylor Bennett spared Notre Dame further embarrassment when he overthrew a pass to a wide open receiver on a post pattern early in the third period.

The Irish squandered their best chance to score a touchdown in the third quarter when Weis inexplicably called a running play to the left side on a third and one inside the Yellow Jacket five yard line. As had been the case on similar left-side runs during the same drive and throughout the day, Tech stuffed the play for a loss. Brandon Walker then converted a 24-yard field goal for the lone Irish points of the day. The only other scoring chance by the Irish was an overthrown deep ball by Sharpley to David Grimes after Grimes had broken clear of the defense.

All three Irish quarterbacks saw action in this game, and it will be interesting to see who receives the majority of the snaps in practice this week. Jimmy Clausen was the most effective of the group, although he did not play until long after the issue had been decided. One thing seems certain: the Weis experiment with Jones running a form of spread option is not a viable alternative. Sharpley appears to be no more than a serviceable backup quarterback, and Clausen is clearly the future as soon as his tender elbow can handle the workload.

A downside of a return to a pro style offense is the potential reduction of touches for Allen. The speedster did not play from scrimmage after Sharpley took over, presumably because he has not mastered the pass protection schemes. Regardless, Weis needs to get him in the lineup this weekend and beyond as he is clearly the team’s best running threat.

Other bright spots for Notre Dame were the play of tight end John Carlson and receiver Robbie Parris on offense. James Aldridge also ran well when given an opportunity. Free safety David Bruton made a positive impression in his starting debut on defense. These few exceptions could not overshadow the horrible physical and mental performance by the offensive line, and particularly left tackle Paul Duncan, who was taken to the woodshed by Tech’s Darrell Robertson. The Irish staff has much work to do to clean up this mess, or they will quickly face similar criticisms regarding their own competence.

Answers to pre-game questions:

- Which offensive line can sustain an effective ground attack? - Georgia Tech
- Which quarterback will be more accurate and make fewer mistakes? - Bennett
- Will Notre Dame be able to handle the blitz? - No
- Will the Irish generate any pressure on Bennett? – Some early success, but the Jackets were rarely forced into passing situations after the first period.
- Which secondary will employ tight coverage without giving up the big play? - Both, thanks to overthrown passes by each team.
- Can Notre Dame generate a scoring play on special teams? - No, although Allen came close to breaking a couple of returns.
- Field goal conversion: - Travis Best was outstanding for Georgia Tech

Notre Dame fans are now forced to adjust expectations for this young team. The goal remains steady improvement as the season progresses, but the level of concern has been reduced to the simple ability to make a first down as opposed to the likelihood of victory against a quality opponent. Weis himself needs to address his own leadership shortcomings, as he is being fed a steady diet of humble pie by college coaches against whom he initially claimed a strategic advantage. That myth was utterly destroyed under the glare of the hot sun in a cloudless sky on Saturday.